Saturday, 17 November 2007

King Darius' Trial of Wisdom, in a Latin inscription on the architrave over the stairs leading down to the sacristy. Forte est vinu. Fortior est rex. Fortiores sunt mulieres: sup om vincit veritas. [Wine is strong. The king is stronger. Women are stronger still: but truth conquers all.]

Possibly, from right to left - preacher in the centre with hand resting on the bible, a skeleton ('King of Terrors' depicting death) holding onto the preacher's stick. The skeleton in turn is holding an hourglass indicating the passing of time ('well known to all who watched it during the long sermons' - Betty Willsher). I wonder if the headstone carver was indicating the preacher's sermons were too long?!

An interesting kirkyard with masses of gravestones. Typical of an upland site, most headstones are covered in a wide range of lichens and mosses. The church has had a long history extending back 850 years with much subsequent rebuilding.

Sunday, 11 November 2007

Another stone in great condition with very long crossed bones and the gravediggers tools (symbols of mortality). At the top is a heart - a symbol of immortality. It is a symbol of the soul and so for Resurrection.

Situated on a small triangle of land adjacent to the river, this cemetery has some very interesting headstones. Most have been well blackened by pollution over the centuries however the carvings are often in very good condition.

Mort safe. The deceased body would be held in this iron chest until it had decomposed enough to render it unsuitable for the body snatchers. It was then buried. Edinburgh was infamous for body snatchers, bodies were stolen for use in the medical schools.

About

This blog was set up to highlight a few good examples of early gravestones up to the mid 19th century, especially those rich in carvings or interesting lettering and regarded as examples of Scottish folk art. Because they are rare, iron work headstones or other graveyard items may be included. A more systematic collection of photographs can be found at the links below.